A tragic mid-air collision occurred near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night (January 29), involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Officials have confirmed that there are no survivors among the 64 people on board the aircraft, which included 60 passengers and four crew members, or the three soldiers aboard the helicopter. The passenger jet, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, when it collided with the helicopter during its approach to the airport.
The Black Hawk helicopter, based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a training mission at the time of the crash. The collision marks the first major commercial airline crash in the United States since 2009. According to ABC7 News, 30 bodies have been recovered from the scene, with the search and recovery efforts continuing in challenging conditions. The water temperature in the Potomac River, where the crash occurred, is approximately 36 degrees, and the air temperature was around 50 degrees with gusty winds at the time of the incident.
The U.S. Figure Skating organization confirmed that several members of their community, including athletes, coaches, and family members, were aboard the flight, returning from the National Development Camp in Wichita. Russian media reported that two former Russian figure skating champions were also on the plane, though U.S. authorities have not confirmed this information. The Russian government has expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation into the crash. President Donald Trump commented on the incident, questioning the actions of the helicopter pilots and air traffic control. Reagan National Airport remains closed, with flights diverted to Dulles International Airport. The situation is fluid, and the airport is expected to reopen later today.